Uttarakhand High Court Issues Contempt Notice To State Chief Secretary Over Non-Regularization Of UPNL Employees

In a contempt petition filed against the State Government's failure to implement the High Court's decision to regularize the UPNL employees, the Uttarakhand High Court issued a civil contempt notice to the State's Chief Secretary Radha Raturi to seek her response on the issue.

The single bench comprising Justice Alok Kumar Verma heard the matter.

On 12.11.2018, in the case of Kundan Singh v. State of Uttarakhand & Ors. the High Court ordered that the State Government must regularize UPNL-sponsored employees within a year as per existing schemes and ensure they receive the minimum pay scale with dearness allowance, including arrears, within six months.

The State Government challenged the High Court's decision before the Supreme Court, but the same was dismissed. However, the petitioners contended that despite an order the state government is yet to establish rules for their regularization, even though they have been working for years. Instead, the government is removing them, issuing regular notifications, and recruiting for those positions.

The petitioners pleaded that the state government had not complied with the Court's order and sought contempt proceedings against the state.

Following this, the notice was issued to the Chief Secretary returnable on 24.12.2024.

Mr. M.C. Pant, Adv. appeared for the petitioners

Case Title: UTTARAKHAND UPNL KARAMCHARI SANGH v. RADHA RATURI, CLCON No.402 of 2024

Click here to read/download the order